
One of the best audio tours I ve experienced for a...
One of the best audio tours I ve experienced for ages (I normally hate them). This castle/fortified home is stunning. It s small, but you can explore freely, the surrounding area is beautiful, and there s a good walk too. Good cake in the tea room too.
Great place to visit and if you join English Herit...
Great place to visit and if you join English Heritage it's free!
We had a great afternoon exploring medieval England with characters explaining how things were. Our favourite was the fletcher who showed us arrows and he was a real expert, so we now have a greater understanding of history and why English bows were superior to the French!
Gorgeous place. Wasnt expecting much so didnt leav...
Gorgeous place. Wasnt expecting much so didnt leave much time to visit. It was lovely there. Well kept, friendly staff. Will be going back again for a proper visit.
Loved this place. An expected gem en route to Lud...
Loved this place. An expected gem en route to Ludlow
Just walked around outside quite expensive to go i...
Just walked around outside quite expensive to go in, although looked lovely
A fortified 13th century manor house rather than a...
A fortified 13th century manor house rather than a castle, this is a real hidden gem not really visible from the road so I suspect it's missed by most people. Visiting Stokesay is a bit like stepping onto a Tim Burton film set (just search for it on Instagram for proof): it's so perfectly atmospheric and photogenic with it's glowing warm yellow gatehouse, and wonky leaded casement windows overlooking the graveyard.
The audio guide (which is FREE!) is essential and gives a fascinating history of the place. It's hard to imagine just what a bustling hive of activity this place would have been in its heyday. (Note: if you're not good with stairs and/or uneven surfaces, Stokesay is not going to be great for you I'm afraid.)
If you can manage it (it's only 2 flights of steps), make sure you head to the top of the South Tower for magnificent views across the Shropshire contryside, and down onto the impressive and lichen-covered roof of the Great Hall: I've visited on a sunny day in Autumn, which was glorious all long shadows and golden, glowing trees with cows paddling in the mill pond and a damp, foggy day which gave the full spooky, Sleepy Hollow effect... I was half expecting to see a headless horseman galloping out of the graveyard.
Either way, it looks to me like they may need a few more funds to keep this place in good working order, so just get yourself there and immerse yourself in the magic. Then afterwards, head up the road into Ludlow for a spot of lunch/dinner... The perfect day out.
PS There's a shop, and very little tea room so don't expect much choice, but I've had perfectly good tea and scones both times I've visited. It's one of those places that leave you knowing you'll come back again one day...
Such an interesting place, so photogenic. Very fri...
Such an interesting place, so photogenic. Very friendly staff especially in the coffee shop.
Timeless appeal. New cafe arrangement means no mor...
Timeless appeal. New cafe arrangement means no more tea and cake within the peaceful ' Keep' garden, but still lovely.
Excellent visit, the audio guide is brilliant. A l...
Excellent visit, the audio guide is brilliant. A lot of history in a beautiful setting. A really interesting building with fantastic views of the surrounding countryside from the top of the tower.
A wonderful out of the way castle that's half a ru...
A wonderful out of the way castle that's half a ruin in a picturesque valley. Make sure to get the audio guide for the full experience as there aren't many information panels. Lots of stairs so not very accessible. Takes around one hour with the audio guide.
Gr8 self guided audio tour. Lots of uneven old ste...
Gr8 self guided audio tour. Lots of uneven old steps. Parking. Cafe. Souvenir shop.
Great views, historic buildings, what's not to lik...
Great views, historic buildings, what's not to like?
Very picturesque buildings. Quite small but really...
Very picturesque buildings. Quite small but really interesting structure to wander around. Country walks nearby too and a modern tearoom.
Favourite, beautiful magic castle which is always ...
Favourite, beautiful magic castle which is always a joy. I love the new car park entrance and cafe.
Stunning little place to visit! Would highly recom...
Stunning little place to visit! Would highly recommend. Really feels like stepping back in time
Beautiful inside and out and it history is fascina...
Beautiful inside and out and it history is fascinating, the love heart shaped rooms in the tower are a wonderful example of how love was expressed with such grand gestures in those days, the gift shop is well laid out with some beautiful jewellery pieces, staff throughout are friendly and helpful.
They have improved this since the last time we vis...
They have improved this since the last time we visited a few years ago. A good audio tour making the most of the history of the castle. Lovely staff in the shop / reception too. A good hour's visit plus however long you spend in the tea shop!
Really well thought out experience, especially in ...
Really well thought out experience, especially in the current covid climate. Audio guide worth getting (free)
A beautiful fortified Norman Manor House with a 17...
A beautiful fortified Norman Manor House with a 17th century gatehouse, Stokesay remains beautiful. The location is idyllic, next to a Norman church in serene Shropshire countryside. Built for Laurence of Ludlow in the thirteenth century, it was clearly intended to demonstrate his status and wealth. He made his fortune through the wool trade. The manor house is fortified, not so much against any military attack, but against any who who would cover his money. The star of this building is the oak beamed roof of the great hall. Quite magnificent. If you're in the area, a visit us highly recommended. Members of English Heritage have free entrance, of course.
Wow - just an amazing piece of history. A proper c...
Wow - just an amazing piece of history. A proper castle and medieval home. Totally worth a visit.
Very interesting survivor. In Simon Jenkins "1000 ...
Very interesting survivor. In Simon Jenkins "1000 Best English Houses " book.
Lovely place, very quiet and historically interest...
Lovely place, very quiet and historically interesting
Beautiful castle, great place to visit for a few h...
Beautiful castle, great place to visit for a few hours.
A lovely place to visit with beautiful views. Spen...
A lovely place to visit with beautiful views. Spent about an hour wandering around the buildings, following the tour in the guide book. Friendly staff & lovely food in the tearoom too.
Excellent castle we liked the audio information as...
Excellent castle we liked the audio information as you walked around as it told you the whole story of the place well kept and the time we were there it was very quiet would recommend
Always good here wonderful atmosphere and the swa...
Always good here wonderful atmosphere and the swallows always come back thank you
Greatly enjoyed my visit here. The gloomy and fogg...
Greatly enjoyed my visit here. The gloomy and foggy day really added to the majesty if the whole place. One of the best castles I've been to in a long time.
Loved it
Loved it
Full of history.
Tea room 10 out of 10.
Staff lovely
A wonderful place. The fact it has survived so muc...
A wonderful place. The fact it has survived so much time and turmoil and is still here, as intact as it is, is remarkable! I'd seen this lovely place off to the side every time I'd caught the train from Hereford, and I'd always promised I'd go and visit. Well, it took years to finally stop procrastinating, now I just regret that it took me so long! Don't be like me - GO NOW!!
Fantastic castle great staff but tea room needs a ...
Fantastic castle great staff but tea room needs a little work
Utterly amazing
Utterly amazing
arrived on a day when it was pouring with rain....which added to the atmosphere of this amazing place.....
we are regular visitors to shropshire....but after travelling a lot in the uk.. this must be the best of the lot.....i just cannot wait to revisist...theres so much information on the past , the present, and the life of this place.
just love it.....any one interested in history ...then this is a must
A national wonder. Excellent history with audio to...
A national wonder. Excellent history with audio tour. 13th century on. Cafe excellent food and staff. Large eating area outside for those with packed lunch catering for their own dietary requirements. Membership at 8.5 per month fantastic value.
As English heritage quotes stockesay castle is one...
As English heritage quotes stockesay castle is one of the finest fortified manor houses in Shropshire combined with excellent amenities on-site!
Fasinating place, audio guides invaluable. Friendl...
Fasinating place, audio guides invaluable. Friendly and informative staff and lovely tea rooms.
A small but informative heritige site, good to hav...
A small but informative heritige site, good to have a walk around, takes up to an hour to complete, lovely little shop and amenities on site too, coffee shop next to the car park
Like something out of a medieval film set!Wonderfu...
Like something out of a medieval film set!Wonderful intact historical structure set in beautiful countryside. Lovely tea rooms with 'proper' coffee and cakes
Great day out, lovely building. I really enjoyed m...
Great day out, lovely building. I really enjoyed my day here.
One of the best intact medieval castles in the uk,...
One of the best intact medieval castles in the uk, well worth a visit.
Really enjoyed the experience. .lovely setting on ...
Really enjoyed the experience. .lovely setting on Welsh boarders ..
Beautiful preserved ruin, fantastic views to surro...
Beautiful preserved ruin, fantastic views to surrounding areas. The scones in tea room are well worth a try
Great audio tour and new tea room near car park wa...
Great audio tour and new tea room near car park was good. Castle doesn't take too long but not a bad things for little legs.
A lovely little moated Manor house under the trust...
A lovely little moated Manor house under the trust of English heritage well worth a look around
Really interesting historical site, I would recomm...
Really interesting historical site, I would recommend the audio tour as you will gain some really cool insight into the history area and site.
Great views and well preserved. Watching the swall...
Great views and well preserved. Watching the swallows a bonus too.
Beautifully preserved English Heritage site with b...
Beautifully preserved English Heritage site with beautiful views. Very friendly and helpful staff.
Beautiful fortified ancient manor house. Things & ...
Beautiful fortified ancient manor house. Things & activities for the kids. Good for history & architecture buffs. Tea room very good but not cheap, well worth it. If on a tight budget take a picnic etc. Picnic tables etc on lawn in car park.
I really enjoyed the audio tour and the fantastic ...
I really enjoyed the audio tour and the fantastic garden.
Go. Just visit, go. Absolutely beautiful and seren...
Go. Just visit, go. Absolutely beautiful and serene. Did I say you should go? Go.
The castle is beautiful to visit, a small country ...
The castle is beautiful to visit, a small country castle with a nice inner courtyard. The building at the main entrance is very beautiful.
Didn't expect the castle to be so interesting. The...
Didn't expect the castle to be so interesting. The site did not look that big. We used the audio tour and found this added to the experience.
Staff very friendly and was gin day so enjoyed a taster.
The church adjacent also worth a walk round.
Well worth a visit.
Really enjoyed our visit. Worth having audio tour....
Really enjoyed our visit. Worth having audio tour. Excellent tearoom next to car park.
Amazing! It's so old it is wonderful things like t...
Amazing! It's so old it is wonderful things like this have survived
Have loved this place since I was a child. Magical...
Have loved this place since I was a child. Magical history
Lovely little fortified manor (its not really a ca...
Lovely little fortified manor (its not really a castle), however its ridiculously expensive for what's on offer. Not worth the entrance fee in my opinion. Surrounding countryside is lovely and the tearooms/cafe by the car park serves some nice food at mid range prices. Dogs are welcome outside and they have water bowls dotted around.
Well worth the visit !! Couple of quality hours wi...
Well worth the visit !! Couple of quality hours with my family in this peacful castle
Lovely few hours out in the sunshine. Well worth a...
Lovely few hours out in the sunshine. Well worth a visit
Fantastic, our firsr castle! Really enjoyable the ...
Fantastic, our firsr castle! Really enjoyable the audio guide was great!
It's a lovely place but not really good for those ...
It's a lovely place but not really good for those of us with mobility issues. I spent my time sat waiting for my family to finish looking around.
Charming atmospheric site a feat antidote to Covi...
Charming atmospheric site a feat antidote to Covid blues!
A wonderful place. A one stop shop for a great day...
A wonderful place. A one stop shop for a great day out. The grounds include a church, a castle, a great hall and a walled enclave. With stunning surroundings and great facilities which include a gift shop, toilets and a charming tea room you are sure to have a brilliant time at Stokesay.
A very pleasant visit. Plenty of information to en...
A very pleasant visit. Plenty of information to enable the past to come alive. Friendly staff and a site holding many interesting happenings.
The gatehouse is the most beautiful house I've eve...
The gatehouse is the most beautiful house I've ever seen.
Small but interesting castle
Small but interesting castle
Very friendly helpful and knowledgeable staff brilliant well worth the visit
Stunning views from the top tower
great English Heritage location...one of many we v...
great English Heritage location...one of many we visit with our membership.
Lovely castle and quite a bit to explore but still...
Lovely castle and quite a bit to explore but still very expensive for an hour's visit. Really can't figure out why these charitable trusts charge EXTRA for giftaid. What is going On?
Great and very interesting place to visit with a v...
Great and very interesting place to visit with a very nice garden, but expensive so be warned.
Great place for a visit, lovely cafe with great st...
Great place for a visit, lovely cafe with great staff and food!
I love English Heritage sites. Stokesay is a littl...
I love English Heritage sites. Stokesay is a little gem, worthwhile your visit. I stayed more than an hour without even realising where time went.
Excellent staff, helpful and friendly.
Small castle in a beautiful setting. Great to expl...
Small castle in a beautiful setting. Great to explore with children.
